Oregon Republican compares healthcare reform to slavery law

An Oregon Republican running for the House recently compared the Democrats' healthcare reform bill to the Fugitive Slave Act.

Republican Scott Bruun, who is challenging freshman Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), told a crowd in Canby, Ore., during an Oct. 7 speech that the healthcare bill was "right up there" with the infamous slave act.

The bill, passed in 1850, required any runaway slaves who had escaped their bondage and were living free in the Northern states be returned to their owners.

"I would argue that from a fiscal perspective, it's probably the worst piece of legislation this nation's ever passed," Bruun said during a speech that was recorded by a Democratic campaign tracker.

The audience clapped its approval, but then Bruun continued.

"From a social perspective, it's right up there, I would argue — probably the fugitive slave law was worse," he added. "But still, the healthcare bill was pretty darn bad."